Norwegian-French magistrate Eva Joly, who has served as consultant to Iceland’s special prosecutor because of the banking collapse, participated in a press conference about the Magma Energy deal with Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk in Reykjavík yesterday.
Björk during a press conference about Magma in July. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
According to a press release, Joly is looking into the deal concerning the privatization of the third biggest energy company in Iceland, HS Orka. The company has been sold to the Canadian company Magma Energy.
Joly has joined forces with Björk in her battle against the privatization of HS Orka and together with Björk challenges the Icelandic government to prevent it and to hold a national referendum on the country’s energy resources as soon as possible.
At the press conference, Joly said that if she were the state prosecutor in Iceland she would launch a criminal investigation into Magma Energy’s acquisition of HS Orka, ruv.is reports.
She stated that Magma is a dubious company where not much is known about ownership and financing and urged Icelanders to fight the privatization of natural resources.
“Do you think anything can resist Björk and Eva?” Joly told RÚV when asked whether she believes their actions will be fruitful.
Approximately 20,000 Icelandic citizens have signed a petition to support this action on www.orkuaudlindir.is.
Joly also formally announced at a press conference with Special Prosecutor Ólafur Th. Hauksson yesterday that she will now discontinue her work for his office and concentrate on her campaign for the presidency of France. Her contract expires at the end of the year but it was agreed that her resignation will take effect immediately.
She stated the office is very strong, yet recommended the reinforcement of foreign consultants on some of the 60 cases currently being investigated by the special prosecutor and the establishment of a special court to handle these cases.
According to ruv.is, Hauksson added that he expects the investigations to be completed in four years.
Click here to read more about the Magma controversy and here to read more about Joly.
